Hagerstown's Municipal Stadium will sizzle with hot chili and live music on Saturday at the Hagerstown Suns Chili Cook-off & Music Festival.

The Suns and the Community Free Clinic have partnered to host the event from noon to 8 p.m. Sept. 25. All proceeds will benefit the downtown Hagerstown clinic, which serves Washington County residents without medical insurance, said the clinic's interim executive director, Robin Roberson.

More than 20 different culinary teams will set up inside the stadium to compete for the $1,000 best overall chili top prize - an award that will be bestowed upon the chili with the highest cumulative score for appearance, aroma, consistency and taste, Roberson said. Trophies also will be awarded at 3 p.m. for the hottest chili and at 5:30 p.m. for the people's choice chili. Festival-goers can cast their ballots for their favorite chili recipe. Each adult admission ticket includes coupons for four free chili samples, while each child's ticket includes coupons for two free chili samples.

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Concessions such as pit beef sandwiches, chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, soft drinks and beer also will be sold.

In addition to the search for the area's best chili recipe, the event will feature a wide variety of live music from eight bands on the festival's infield stage. The performance lineup includes:

· Hagerstown-based Borderline, a country/classic rock band that covers the music of such diverse musicians as Garth Brooks, the Rolling Stones, Shania Twain and Cheap Trick. For more information on the band, go to www.borderlineband.us on the Web.

· The Danny Sullivan Band, an original classic rock band led by Hagerstown resident Sullivan on guitar and strings.

· Possum Holler of Greencastle, Pa., a country music band fronted by Tori Anderson. For more information on the band, go to www.possumhollerband.homestead.com on the Web.

· Waynesboro, Pa.-based Good For Nothing, a band that plays upbeat originals and modern rock cover tunes. Go to www.gfnband.com on the Web.

· Boonsboro-based Crunch Mob, a four-member "old-school punk rock" band that founding member Vince Lupo of Sharpsburg said was named best new punk group at the New York International Music Festival in April. Go to www.crunchmob.com on the Web.

· Saving Lisa of Chambersburg, Pa., a piano-based alternative rock band that includes Brian Stoner on guitar, Adam Schlager on piano, Will Wilson on bass and lead vocals and Dan Peterson on drums. Stoner, Schlager and Wilson comprised three of the four members of the once-popular local band Mama Tried.

"The new band has a more emotional side to it," Stoner said. Go to www.savinglisa.com on the Web.

· Keyser, W.Va.-based Distorted Penguins, an original seven-piece ska band. The group has enjoyed national radio airplay, and several Distorted Penguins singles were included on episodes of MTV's "Undressed." Go to www.distortedpenguins.com on the Web.

Kids also can jam off-stage in the festival's Kids Zone, which will include a moon bounce, sliding board and reptile zoo. Sam's Club will sponsor games and prizes for youngsters, Roberson said.

Admission at the gate costs $12, adults; $6, children ages 12 and younger; and free for children ages 3 and younger. Adult admission charge includes four chili sample tickets; child admission charge includes two chili sample tickets.